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title: Mesa Verde National Park
description: An exceptional concentration of prehistoric Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings constructed inside high canyon alcoves.
llms_summary: "Mesa Verde National Park. (Mesa Verde, Colorado, United States). TouristAttraction. Annual Visitors 550k people. Buffer Zone 0 ha. Category Type Cultural. Conservation Status Excellent. Epoch Origin Puebloan Prehistory (12th C. CE). Latitude 37.24 °. Longitude -108.46 °. Primary Material Sandstone & Mortar. Property Area 21k ha. UNESCO ID 27. Year Inscribed 1978. Best for indigenous archaeologists, anthropomorphic surveyors, and geographic historians.  An exceptional concentration of prehistoric Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings constructed inside high canyon alcoves.  canonical profile on Chrisyst Datasets"
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    slug: mesa-verde-national-park
    name: Mesa Verde National Park
    type: TouristAttraction
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---
# Mesa Verde National Park

An exceptional concentration of prehistoric Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings constructed inside high canyon alcoves.

## Record

- **Title**: [Mesa Verde National Park](https://datasets.chrisyst.com/mesa-verde-national-park/index.md)
- **Geo target**: Mesa Verde, Colorado, United States
- **Website**: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/27
- **Address**: Mancos Canyon Rd, Mesa Verde, CO, 81330, United States
- **Coordinates**: 37.2416, -108.4618

### Summary

An exceptional concentration of prehistoric Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings constructed inside high canyon alcoves.

### Description

## Dwellings within the Stone

Mesa Verde preserves an unparalleled architectural archive of Ancestral Puebloan residential layouts, primarily dating from the 6th to the late 13th centuries. These remarkable cliff dwellings, such as the iconic Cliff Palace and Balcony House, are ingeniously constructed within massive, naturally occurring sandstone alcoves high on canyon walls. Utilizing local sandstone blocks, mud mortar, and timber, the Ancestral Puebloans engineered multi-story structures with intricate room blocks, kivas, and defensive features, demonstrating sophisticated masonry and an advanced adaptation to the arid, rugged environment.

The construction and eventual abandonment of these settlements by the Ancestral Puebloans around 1300 CE remain subjects of intense archaeological study, with theories ranging from prolonged drought to resource depletion and social upheaval. Mesa Verde's significance extends beyond its architectural ingenuity, offering profound insights into the social organization, spiritual practices, and daily lives of its ancient inhabitants. As a UNESCO World Heritage site and National Park, it serves as a critical center for archaeological research, cultural preservation, and public education, safeguarding a vital chapter of North American indigenous history.

### Attributes

- **Annual Visitors**: 550k people _(quality 85)_
- **Buffer Zone**: 0 ha _(quality 10)_
- **Category Type**: Cultural
- **Conservation Status**: Excellent
- **Epoch Origin**: Puebloan Prehistory (12th C. CE)
- **Latitude**: 37.24 ° _(quality 50)_
- **Longitude**: -108.46 ° _(quality 50)_
- **Primary Material**: Sandstone & Mortar
- **Property Area**: 21k ha _(quality 92)_
- **UNESCO ID**: 27
- **Year Inscribed**: 1978 _(quality 99)_